As PTI supporters continued to stand guard outside party chairman Imran Khan’s residence, the Lahore High Court extended on Friday the bar on police action at Zaman Park till 3pm today.
Embroiled in legal complexities, Imran has been resisting arrest in the Toshakhana case and is holed up inside his Zaman Park residence surrounded by hundreds of supporters, who have fought “pitched battles” with the police and Rangers over the past few days.
Key developments so far:
LHC extends bar on police action at Zaman Park till 3pm today
PTI supporters stand guard outside party chairman’s residence to prevent possible arrest
Imran challenges trial court verdict in IHC, petition to be taken up shorty
PTI chief says he will appear before Islamabad sessions court on March 18
Rana Sanaullah says the government will follow due legal process regarding Imran’s arrest
The Islamabad police, backed up by their Punjab Police compatriots and the Rangers, arrived at the ex-premier’s house on Tuesday to execute non-bailable arrest warrants issued by an Islamabad sessions court for him in the Toshakhana reference — in which he has skipped several hearings.
However, the law enforcement agencies retreated on Wednesday evening, saying that the operation had been paused during the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL). Separately, the LHC had also intervened and postponed the operation.
A day earlier, an Islamabad sessions court — where PTI had gone for the suspension of Imran’s arrest warrants — upheld the warrants that it issued, observing that the PTI chief had “challenged the dignity and writ of the state”.
It also maintained its order to arrest the ex-premier and present him in court by March 18.
On Friday, Dawn.com’s correspondent present outside Zaman Park said that police were not present in the vicinity, but hordes of PTI supporters outside Imran’s house were armed with sticks and stones, prepared for any police operation.
Simultaneously, the LHC resumed hearing the petition — filed by PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry — regarding the police operation outside Imran’s residence.
The court previously twice stopped the police operation outside Imran’s residence and instructed the Punjab police and PTI to sit together and resolve the matter after consultation.
Ahead of the hearing today, Chaudhry tweeted that both parties have “agreed to resolve the issues” and the agreed solution will be presented in court today.
As the hearing commenced, Chaudhry praised the judge, saying “you have saved Pakistan and Lahore in the last two days.”
“You have saved lives with your intervention,” he added.
The PTI leader stated that his party delegation had a meeting with the Punjab police chief and chief secretary to discuss matters related to PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s security.
Chaudhry stated that the Punjab government had assured the delegation that due security would be provided to the PTI chief. He also informed the court that the PTI’s public gathering at the Minar-e-Pakistan, originally planned for Sunday, would be held on Monday instead.
Furthermore, he told the court that a plea for protective bail for the party chief had been filed.
The judge then pointed out that there were two separate matters. “One of them is being heard in the Islamabad High Court and the other in a trial court,” he said, questioning how his court could hear the matter.
“We request that the police not arrest our workers,” he added, addressing the IG.
The judge remarked that those who committed “injustice,” regardless of their affiliation, must be dealt with according to the law. “We have cameras everywhere, and the faces of those who commit wrongdoing can be easily identified,” Justice Sheikh added.
The PTI lawyer told the judge: “We want our client to visit you for the hearing of his plea.”
“It is possible that the case may not be assigned to me,” the judge responded.
The provincial police chief told the court that the PTI had agreed to nominate a focal person, adding the police also told them that no area would be allowed to be turned into a “no-go” zone.
The judge asked the PTI leader to follow proper legal procedures if their legitimate demands were not met.
The IGP requested the court to issue directions on how to execute search warrants.
The advocate general of Punjab informed the court that the police did not have access to Zaman Park to carry out legal formalities.
Chaudhry argued that the police were seeking permission to arrest people. “They [law enforcers] have filed one FIR against 2,500 people,” he said.
PTI lawyer Khawaja Tariq Rahim informed the court that two warrants had been issued, one against Imran and the other against Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah.
He then asked the police chief to update the court on the non-implementation of the warrant issued for Sanaullah. The lawyer assured the court that his client would appear before it.
The IGP reiterated his request to visit Zaman Park.
“How will you satisfy them?” Justice Sheikh asked the IG and then asked all parties concerned to sit together and find a solution.
After hearing arguments, Justice Sheikh said that the case would be heard again at 3pm. As a result, the bar on police action in Zaman Park was extended for another three hours.
